What did Typhoon Podul do before landing in Fujian, China?

Before landing in Fujian, Typhoon Podul made a significant impact by pounding southern Taiwan as a hurricane. Typhoons often strengthen over warm waters and can bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and coastal flooding before making landfall. In this case, Podul's approach to Fujian included a direct impact on Taiwan, where it caused severe weather conditions consistent with hurricane force winds. This is a common characteristic of tropical cyclones, especially when they interact with land before finally hitting their main target.

The mention of the other options provides context for their relevance. Weaken significantly could imply a change in intensity that did not align with Podul's impact on Taiwan. A tsunami creation would not be a typical result of typhoon activity directly, while extensive flooding, while it could potentially happen, specifically relates more closely to the aftermath rather than the conditions leading up to its landfall in Fujian. Thus, the correct response centers on the notable effect Podul had on southern Taiwan as it approached the Chinese mainland.